Ahead of the Jobs and Skills Summit which is widely expected to an increase in Australian Immigration off the back of claims of skills shortages throughout the economy, Gunnamatta spoke with Crispin Hull, contributor and former Editor of the Canberra Times, and Leith Van Onselen from Macrobusiness.
Over a 43 Minute discussion the relationship between Immigration volumes and productivity, as well as the inherent contradiction between the claims of skills shortages and the income threshold to justify a need to issue visas to migrants is examined, as well as the structure of the Australian economy and likely industry sectors where migrants will find employment are covered.
With the Skills Summit occurring this week both speakers considered it highly likely that an agreement to raise immigration numbers would unfold, with most of the mainstream media championing this approach, while both noted that ordinary Australians were increasingly sceptical of the impact heavy immigration has on infrastructure and government provided services, as well as the effects on jobs and wages outcomes – and do not ‘have a seat at the table’ at the Jobs and Skills Summit, despite both mainstream sides of politics having refused to discuss Immigration policies at the last Federal election.
